The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly story that recaps and previews Grand Circuit races.
This Week: Battle of Lake Erie, Northfield Park, Northfield, Ohio; Graduate Series first leg, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J.; Currier & Ives, the Meadows, Washington, Pa.; Art Rooney elimination, Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, N.Y.; and Miss Versatility first leg, Mohawk Racetrack, Campbellville, Ontario.
Schedule of events: A busy weekend of Grand Circuit racing will be highlighted by the $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie for older pacers on Saturday (May 21) at Northfield Park.
Also on Saturday, Meadowlands Racetrack will feature two $50,000 divisions of the first leg of the Graduate for four-year-old trotters and a single $75,000 division in the Graduate for four-year-old pacers.
The Meadows on Saturday will host a pair of divisions in the Currier & Ives for three-year-old male trotters and two divisions in the Currier & Ives filly for three-year-old female trotters.
Finally, on Saturday, Yonkers Raceway will feature a single $40,000 elimination in the Art Rooney Pace for three-year-olds. The top eight horses in the field of nine will advance to next week’s final.
On Monday (May 23) Mohawk Racetrack will host two $30,000 divisions in the opening leg of the Miss Versatility for older trotting mares.
Last time: Rockin Ron and driver Yannick Gingras established a new Canadian record in winning the 38th edition of the $187,880 Confederation Cup on Sunday night (May 15) at Flamboro Downs. The streaking Ron Burke trainee held off reigning U.S. Horse of the Year, Wiggle It Jiggleit, the 3-5 favoured second-tier starter, in 1:50.1 to set a new record for older pacers on a half-mile track.
Gingras left with Rockin Ron from Post 4 as he indicated he would in a pre-race interview on the Flamboro Downs broadcast. Rockin In Heaven (driven by Trevor Henry) also left from Post 7 and cleared to command heading to the first turn. However, Rockin Rock retook the lead into a :26.2 first quarter.
As the 4-5 second wagering choice led the field off the turn in front of the grandstand, his stablemate, My Hero Ron (Matt Kakaley), tipped first-over from fourth with Wiggle It Jiggleit (Montrell Teague) following his cover.
Rockin Ron raced past the half in :55.3 and headed to three-quarters in 1:23.3 while Teague fired Wiggle It Jiggleit three-wide down the backstretch to take over second place.
Wiggle It Jiggleit continued to chase the leader as they turned for home, but Rockin Ron maintained a one-length advantage down the stretch as he sprinted home in :26.3 to score the 1:50.1 triumph, which equalled his lifetime mark that he took at Miami Valley Raceway in his last start. Rodeo Romeo (Brett Miller) finished two and a half lengths behind in third off a three-hole trip.
Rockin Rock has now won all 11 of his starts racing for the Burke stable, including 10 this year. The four-year-old Real Desire gelding is owned by Burke Racing LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and RTC Stables Inc.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2016, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will once again be tracked on a points system (20-10-5 for the top three finishers in divisions/finals and 10-5-2 for the top three finishers in eliminations/legs). Winbak Farm is the sponsor for the 2016 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders following the past weekend:
Drivers: 1. Jordan Stratton – 161.5; 2. Daniel Dube – 115; 3. George Brennan – 96; 4. Jason Bartlett – 90; 5. Tim Tetrick – 69.
Trainers: 1. Peter Tritton – 134.5; 2. Jeff Bamond Jr. – 128; 3. Ron Burke - 123; 4. Rene Allard – 120; 5. Richard Banca - 42.
Owners: 1. Harry von Knoblauch - 134.5; 2. Bamond Racing – 75; 3. Courant A B - 40; 4. Allard Racing – 39.55; 5. Durazzano Stable – 35.
Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next week at The Raceway at Western Fair District (Molson Pace for open pacers); Yonkers Raceway (Art Rooney final and Lismore for three-year-old pacers); and Harrah’s Philadelphia (Maxie Lee Memorial for open trotters, Dorothy Mullin Pace for open pacers, and Betsy Ross for pacing mares).
(Grand Circuit)